Starting apparatus for airplane engines and the like



J. BIJUR.

STARTING APPARATUS FOR AIRPLANE ENGINES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED 1A-.16.19|9.

1 ,429,67 1 Patenmd Sept. 19, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET INVENTOR JOSEPH BIJUR ATTORNEY J. BUUR.

STARTING APPARATUS FOR AIRPLANE ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. :6, 2919.

1 ,429,67 1 Patented Sept. 19, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR JOSE PH BIJUR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

a UNITEB $TATES PATENT 0FF1E.

JOSEPH BIJ'UIB', OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB- TO BIJUR MOTOR APPLIANCE COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STARTING APPARATUS FOR AIRPLANE ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

Application flied January 16, 1919. Serial No. 271,477.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BIJUR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Apparatus for Airplane Engines and the llke, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to starting apparatus for engines incapable of starting under their own power and with re ard to certain more specific features thereo to apparatus for startin aircraft engines.

One of t e objects of this invention is to provide compact and easily operated means for starting a source of power. Another object is to provide improved means of the above type which shall be convenient in control, re iable in operation, and whose action is automatic. Another object is to provide means of the above type which shall not interfere with therunning operation of the engine. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction; combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of this invention. Figure 1 is a view in central longitudinal cross-section of my starter unit, out of operative position, Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof, showing the gear teeth butting and the device biased to relieve butting. igs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 2. r

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views of the drawings. This invention is an improvement more particularly with regard to the starter unit, described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 224,494, filed March 25th, 1918.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 have shown a motor 1, operatively connected to a internal combustion engine.

drum or barrel member 14 at one end thereof. Concentric with the barrel 14 and contained therein is a transmission member 16, which is operatively connected to the barrel at the other end thereof, that is, the end opposite to that to which the motor is connected. A driving member or pinion 28 is operatively connected to the member 16 for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith. The driving member 28 is normally contained within the barrel 14 and has a hollow part or neck 31 telescoped with respect to the end 27 of the member 16, the external surface of the part 31 being so ported within the drum 14. The longitu inal movement of the driving member relative to the member 16 is obtained by providin screw threads thereon, which cooperate with a nut 36. The driving member is operatively connected to the nut 36 whereupon at the starting of the motor the nut urges the-driving member into mesh with an engine driven member or gear 29. With such an arrangement, the barrel 14 acts as a transmitter of power to the transmission member 16, and slight misalignment of the member 16 with the shaft of the motor 1 will not affect the entrance of driving member 28 into mesh with the engine driven member 29, such entrance being then purely a question of the inertia of the nut 36, the driving member 28, and their connecting parts, and the acceleration of the screw or transmission member 16.

The electrical starting motor 1 is of relatively light design and has a front head member 2 and a back head member 3. The front head member is preferabl formed with legs 4 and the back head mem r with lugs 5 for convenient securing to the crank case of an The specific manner of mounting the starter unit is not shown in the drawings, as this feature is not a part of my present invention, being fully described and claimed in mg copending application above referred to. t is to be understood, however, that my present invention is not confined to the specific manner of mounting described in said copending application.

The end head member 2 ispreferably provided with a circular opening carrying) a ball bearing 6 within which is rotata lv disc 18 mounted the sleeve 13 forming an integral part of gear 7, which gear is preferably of relativelylarge diameter. An annular member 53 hel s to prevent displacement of the bearing. he gear 7 is provided with peripheral teeth 8 preferably disposed within an annular depression 9 in the.end head member 2. The gear 7 is in continual mesh with a pinion 10, preferably rigidly mounted on the end of the motor shaft. A light covering plate 11, preferably closes the annular depression 9 in end head member 2, being secured to said head member by screws as at 12, and substantially completely enclosing gear 7.

Preferably keyed to the interior'of sleeve 13, I provide the driving drum member or barrel 14, extending in parallelism to the motor shaft and toward the back head member 33. An annular member 14 is preferably threaded to the extreme forward end of the barrel 14, preventing said barrel from moving toward the back head member, and preventing deflection of gear 7.

Within the back head member I provide a bearing 15, within which bearing is lodged one end of the transmission member shown in the form of a shaft 16, this shaft being secured against longitudinal movement toward the front head preferably by a lock nut 17. A plate 18 preferably encircles the transmission shaft 16 at a point adjacent bearing 15, the opening in the plate and the corresponding portion of the shaft having a flattened area as at 19, so that plate 18 and shaft 16 can rotate only in unison. Shaft 16 and disc 18 have cooperating shoulde'rs 26, to prevent movement of disc 18 toward the front head member. ,The disc 18 is prevented from shifting in the opposite direction, as it rests against a fibre washer 22 which in turn rests against bearing 15. This fibre washer also insures easy turning of disc 18 with respect to hearing 15. The plate 18 is preferably provided with lugs 20 fitting into and resting against the bottoms of corresponding slots 21 in the end of driving drum 14, so drum are, in effect, splined together to prevent relative rotation therebetween. It is thus seen that drum 14, when rotated, will drive transmission shaft 16 through plate 18, and vice versa.

A cap 23 is referably threaded as at 24 over the end 0 drum member 14, this cap being-provided with a rim 25 overlapping the periphery of disc 18, to firmly secure the drum 14 and disc 18 in proper assembled relation. Disc 18, by reason of its cooperation with cap rim 25 and shoulder 26, prevents drum member 14 from moving forwardly out y reason of cc eretics with t% bottoms of slots 21, an with washer 22, said prevents backward movement of that disc 18 and said of the front head member 2.

drum member 14. This member is thus prevented from being shifted, while free to rotate.

Any desired form of driving construction may be associated with my transmission shaft or member 16, but I refer to employ an automatic screw shi t arrangement. Upon shaft 16 at a point beyond its journal portion, I provide screw threads 33 extending for a portion of the length of the shaft, the other end of the shaft being preferably unthreaded as at 27, and of smaller diameter than the threaded portion. Mounted upon shaft 16 I prefer to provide a barrel shift transmission unit. By this term it is to be understood I have reference to anautomatic screw shaft transmission of the type in which the engine driving member is an element other than that threaded upon the shaft, and in which some means is provided, preferably of barrel form, to transmit torque from the threaded member to the driving member.

My form of barrel shift unit preferably comprises the pinion 28 adapted to cooperate with the engine gear 29 in proximity thereto, but normally out of mesh with said engine gear. Coaxial with pinion member 28 I provide a barrel member 30, connected by a neck 31 which is integral with both the barrel and the pinion. i The neck 31 has the same external diameter as the pinion 28 and an internal diameter 32 to snugly fit or telescope over the unthreaded end 27 of shaft 16, in order to support this end of the shaft or member 16. As the latter shaft end is not journaled in a hearing, I designate said end as a free shaft end. An external shoulder 34 and an internal shoulder 35 are formed at the junction between the barrel 30 and the neck 31. The nut 36 has a flange 36 and is threaded onto shaft portion 33. The nut is referably formed-with a plurality of lugs 4 at the periphery of said flan'ge, to cooperate spline fashion with corresponding slots 38 in barrel portion 30. These slots are preferably deeper than the width of the nut flange, the bottoms of these slots constituting shoulders 39. A cap 40 is preferably threaded over the end of the barrel, as at 41, and has a rim 42, extending over the periphery of the nut flange, thus preventing the nut from esca ing from the barrel. The cap 40 may, if esired,'be provided with spanner openings 40, and similar openings 23 may be provided on ca 23. Surrounding the shaft member 16 and enclosed within barrel member 30, I preferably provide a relatively heavy coil comprestion spring 43 grossing at one end against shoulder 35 an at the other against nut rts outermost position.

The spl lned portion by which the driving drum 14 1s keyed at 13 to gear 7 is preferflange 36', thus normally holding the nut in ably formed as a cylindrical neck 44, enclosing pinion 28 with relatively small clearance and the barrel portion 31 fits relat'iveiy snugly within Sfilu seek 44, thereby actin to steady the free end 27 of shaft 16 and urnishing a reliable guide for pinion 28 during longitudinal movement, as well as performin other functions appearing more fully be ow.

The neck 44 of drum 14 preferably extends for a short length into the main drum portion, as shown at 45, an integral annular shoulder 46, joining the main barrel portion to said neck. Surrounding extension 45 and barrel portion 31 and pressing against shoulder 46, I provide a relatively weak coil spring 47. This coil spring rests at its other end against a stepped portion 48 at the outer edge of shoulder 34.

ithin the end 27 of transmission shaft 16 I preferably provide a. central oil well 50 communicating with ducts 51' leading to the surface of contact between shaft member 27 and barrel member 31, and I provide further ducts 52 extending through the barrel member 31 for the purpose of lubricating the interior of neck 44 of drum member 14.

My construction is preferably assembled as follows:

The transmission train is preferably completely assembled before ,being associated with the motor. This may be done by assembling the barrel shift construction made up of pinion 28 and its integral barrel 30, spring 43, nut 36 and cap 40, in a manner which, is obvious. The nut 36 may then be passed over the free end 27 of shaft 16, and upon reaching threads 33, it may be threaded thereon, the barrel portion 31 being thus passed over the end 27 of the shaft. The disc member 18 is then slipped over the other end of the shaft, whereupon the drum member 14 is passed over the pinion end of the shaft, spring 47 having previously been placed in position over barrel portion 31. When the slots 21 on the drum have passed over the lugs 20 on plate 18, the cap 23 may be threaded onto the rear end of the drum. Bearing 6 is then slipped over the sleeve 13 of gear 7 and annular member 53 is applied to maintain said elements in assembled relation. Thercupon the gear 7 is keyed over neck 44 of drum 14, and annular member 14 is applied to maintain gear 7 in proper relation relative to the drum.

The entire transmission train, made up of gear 7, drum 14 and all its enclosed parts is then applied to the motor by passing the end of shaft 16 through the opening in the front head member 2, until the said end becomes lodged in bearing 15 'of the back head member and gear 7 becomes lodged in cavity 9 of the front head member, this gear meshin with pinion 10 on the motor.

3y simply applying the lock nut 17 to the extreme rear end of shaft 16, the entire transmission train is securely maintained in assembled relation, relative to the electric motor construction. Cover plate 11 may then be applied to complete the assembly.

The operation of the above described embodiment of this invention is substantially as follows:

Assuming that it be desired to start an en-' gine by my starter unit, the proper ignition connections being made, a starting switch (not shown) is closed and the motor 1 is placed in circuit with a source of current, preferably a battery (not shown). The motor is then energized and transmits its torque by way of motor pinion 10 to gear 7, which rotates in ball bearing 6, the splined portion 13 of said gear, driving the drum 14 at its neck 44 near the front end of said drum. This drum in turn transmits its torque to transmission shaft 16 by way of plate 18 at the rear end of drum 14, causing said shaft to rotate.

The transmission unit made up of nut 36, pinion 28 and its integral barrel with enclosed s rin having a substantial amount of inertia, t e relatively rapid rotation of shaft 16 is not at once imparted to said transmission unit, and, therefore, the nut 36 tends to permit the threaded shaft 33 to rotate therein without imparting rotation to the nut. The nut, therefore, moves forward, urging spring 43 in a forward direction, said spring, by its contact with shoulder 35', urging pinion 28 forwardly into mesh with geared ring 29, the neck 44 forming a guide and a support throughout this action.

When the pinion reaches full mesh with the geared ring 29, shoulder 34 on the transmission unit abuts shoulder 49 on the driving drum, thus preventing movement of the pinion 27 beyond full meshing position.

The barrel 30 being now limited against further longitudinal movement, and the engine resisting rotation of siiid barrel, the nut 36 which is splined to the barrel, cannot ro tate, and will, therefore, continue to travel forwardly into slots 38, compressing spring 43 until the nut flange reaches shoulders 39 at the bottoms of the slots. \Vhen this occurs, the nut can, of course, travel no further in a longitudinal direction and is, therefore, compelled to rotate with the transmission shaft 16, imparting its rotation through the barrel to pinion 28, thus cranking the engine.

When the engine runs under its own power the engine gear 29 drives the pinion 28 at an increasing speed. The pinion imparts the same rate of rotation through the barrel to the nut 36, and this nut, now rotating faster than the threaded shaft 16, overruns the threads thereon until it reaches the rim 42,

whereupon it continues to overrun the threads, drawing the barrel and the pinion into out of mesh on home position.

If in operation, teeth of the pinion should meet teeth of the flywheel gear end to end instead of going into mesh, then the barrel is limited against longitudinal movement before shoulders 34 and 49 abut. 36 in that case being prevented from rotating by reason of the stopping of pinion 28, will movelongitudinally with respect to the shaft compressing spring 43. It is found in use that as the spring is compressed the nut is tightened against the thread to a greater extent than the butting teeth against each other. While the nut is still an appreciable distance from the bottoms of slots 38, it will have been tightened upon the threaded shaft by virtue of compression of spring 43 with suflicient force to substantially cease move ment with respect to said shaft. \Vhen the nut has reached substantiall the position shown in Fig. 2, it will, there ore, commence to rotate with the threaded shaft, a slight rotation causing the pinion teeth to move into proper alignment with space between teeth on the engine gear, thereby overcoming butting, whereupon compression spring 43 rapidly expands, urging the pinion substantially into full mesh with the engine gear. The latter member then, holding the pinion against further rotation, and the nut 36 bein in turn held against rotation by the barre 30, this nut will continue to move longitudinally along the shaft until it reaches the bottoms 39 of slots 38, whereupon the nut is compelled to rotate with the shaft and the action proceeds in a normal manner, as above described.

My barrel shift has certain of the constructional and functional features above set forth, in common with the subject matter of copending application of Charles Marcus, Serial No. 260,048, filed October 28th, 1918. Another of these important features is the provision of means to revent hunting of the driving member. riefly stated, it will be noticed that when cranking a four-cylinder gas motor, for example, bymeans of an electric motor, the fly-wheel of the gas motor revolves with a velocity which is not uniform during any one revolution and this is due to the fact that at the compression points there is a return of energy imparted to the fly-wheel which will cause, during a small interval, a small acceleration which is imparted then to the pinion of .the electric motor. This acceleration will be imparted by way of barrel 30 to nut 36, causingthe nut to overrun the threads 33 in a direction away from mesh. As the nut moves towards this out of mesh position, it travels within-slot 38, which for this operation constitutes a lost motion connection between the nut and the pinion. Before the nut has reached disc 18, the accelerating tend- The nut remains in full mesh with gear 29. This hunting action occurs more particularly in engines with a small number of cylinders, such as four-cylinder engines. As the number of cylinders of an engine is increased, the greater smoothness of resistance to cranking results in a greatly diminished hunting action, and in engines of a relatively large number of cylinders this hunting tendency may be imperceptible.

Thus the lost motion connection above set forth eliminates hunting of the pinion, avoiding the diiiiculties encountered when such means is not provided, all as pointed out in the specification of Charles Marcus, above referred to.

During the running of the engine, creeping of the transmission unit into contact with the rotating engine member 29 is prevented by the action of the relatively weak spring 47. This spring, while maintaining the transmission unit out of engagement with the gear member 29, while the vehicle is running, regardless of the ade or roughness of its course, is not sufficiently stron to resist the longitudinal movement of t e unit when the motor is started for cranking purposes.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied and which apparatus in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without'departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description ,or shown in the aceompanyin drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not 1n a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is: i

1. In a starter unit for gas engines and the like, in combination, a motor having a 2. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor having a shaft,

a front head member, and a back head member for said motor, a transmiss on ma inas-r 5 having a support within each said member, means associated with one said support to prevent displacement of said member, power reduction means connected to the motor and mounted on the front head member, and means for transmitting power therefrom to the back end of said transmission member.

3. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor having a shaft, 3, front head member and a back head member for said motor, a transmission member having a support within each said member, means associated with one said support to prevent substantial displacement of said transmission member, and means for transmitting power from the front of said motor to a point on saidtransmission member, adjacent said back head support.

4. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor, a transmission member parallel thereto, and having its ends substantially in the planes of the ends of said motor, a drum member connected with said transmission member, power reduction means connecting the front end of said motor to the front end of said drum, and means connecting therear end of said drum to drive said transmission member.

5. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor, a pinion rigid therewith at one end, a gear meshing with said pinion, a drum member having one end keyed to said gear and extending toward the other end of said motor, a transmission member within said drum, and means connecting the other end of said drum to drive said transmission member.

6. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor having heads, a drum member, a transmission member therein, said drum projecting beyond said transmission member at one end, and said transmission member beyond said drum at the other, bearings for said projecting portions substantially in the planes of said heads, power reduction means at one end of said motor, driving the pro'ectng end of said drum, and means near t e opposite end of said drum, transmitting torque to said transmission member.

7. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor having a shaft, a front head member and a back head. member therefor, a drum member, a transmission member keyed therein and concentric with said drum, substantially the entire length of said latter members combined being disposed between said head members and in parallelism to said motor shaft, and reduction means for imparting thereto, 65 torque of said motor.

8. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor having a shaft, a front head member and a back head therefor, a drum member, a transmission member therein, concentric and sub stantially rigid with said drum, said drum projecting beyond said transmission member at one end, and said transmission member beyond said drum at the other, a bearing in said backhead member for said projecting shaft portion, a bearing in said front head member for said projecting drum portion, and reduction means connected to said motor at said front head, and in driving relation to the projecting part of said drum.

9. In an engine starting 'unit, in c0mbination, a drum, means whereby said drum is driven at one end thereof, a concentric member contained within said drum and operatively connected thereto at the other end thereof, and a driving member operatively connected with said concentric member for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith.

10. In an engine starting unit, in combination, a drum, means whereby said drum is driven at one end thereof, a concentric member contained within said drum and operatively connected thereto at the other end thereof, and a driving member normally contained within said drum and operatively connected with said concentric member for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith.

11. In an engine starting unit, in combination, a motor, a pinion on the motor shaft, a drum, a gear operatively connected to one end of said druml and meshing with said pinion, a concentric member contained within said drum and operatively connected thereto at the other end thereof, and a driving member operatively connected with said concentric member for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith.

12. In an engine starting unit, in combination, a motor, a pinion on the motor shaft, a drum, a gear operatively connected to one end of said drum and meshing with said pinion, a concentric member contained within said drum and operatively connected thereto at the other end thereof, and a driving member normally contained within said drum and operatively connected with said concentric member for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith. e

13. In an engine starting unit, n combination, a drum, means whereby said drum is driven, a concentric member containe within said drum and operatively connecte thereto, and a driving member operatively connected with said member and contalne within said drum for longitudinal movement thereof. a d rotary movement therescrew threaded portion with, said driving member having a part telescoped with respect to the end of said concentric member.

14. In an engine starting unit, in combination, a drum, means whereby said drum is driven, a concentric member contained within said drum and operatively connected thereto, and a driving member operatively connected with said member contained within said drum for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said driving member having a hollow portion telescoped with respect to an end of said concentric member, the external surface of said hollow telescoped portion being supported within said drum.

15. In an engine starting unit, in combination, an engine driven member, a motor, a drum driven therefrom, a screw member concentric with said drum andconnected to rotate therewith, a driving member, and a nut on the screw member, said driving member being operatively connected to saidnut whereupon at the starting of the motor said nut urges said driving member into mesh with said engine driven member.

16. In an engine starting unit, in combination, an engine driven member, a motor, a drum driven therefrom, a transmission memer having a screw threaded portion concentrio with said drum and connected to rotate therewith and a guiding portion, a drivin member havin a hollow portion, said ho low portion 0? said driving member being telescoped over the guiding portion of said transmission member, and a nut on said of said transmission member, said nut being operatively connected to said drivin member to cause the former to urge,the Iatter into mesh with the engine drlven member upon starting of said motor, said hollow telescoped portion ofgaid driving member being supported in sai 17. In an engine starting unit, in comblnation, an englne driven member, a motor, a drum driven therefrom at one end thereof, a screw member contained within said drum and concentric therewith, said drum driving said screw member from the other end there of, a driving member, and a nut on said screw member, said drivin 'ne starting unit, in combination an engine driven member, a motor, a drum driven therefrom at one endthereof, a screw membenjeontained within said drum thezefi, a ass tained within $211 A rum, and a nut i on said screw member said driving member being tion, a motor, ber driven thereby,

i m'embennormallybon -Ti d operatively connected to said nut whereupon at the starting of said motor said nut urges said driving member into mesh with said engine driven member.

n an engine starting unit, in combination, an engine driven member, a motor, a pinion on the motor shaft, a drum, a gear operatively mmnected to one end of said drum and meshing with said pinion, a screw member contained within said drum and concentric therewith, said drum driving said screw member from the other end thereof, a driving member, and a nut on said screw member, said driving member being operatively connected to said nut whereupon at the starting of said motor said nut urges said driving member into mesh with said engine driven member.

20. In an engine starting unit, in combination, an engine driven member, a motor, a pinion on the motor shaft, a drum, a gear operatively connected to one end of said drum and meshing with said pinion, a screw member contained within said drum and concentric therewith, said drum driving said screw member from the other end thereof, a driving member normally contained within said drum, and a'nut on said screw member, said driving member being operatively connected to said nut whereupon at the starting of said motor said nut urges said driving member into mesh with said engine driven member.

21. In an engine starting unit, in combination, an engine driven member, a motor, a drum driven therefrom, a screw threaded member concentric with said drum and connected to rotate therewith, a driving member, and a nut on said screw threaded member, said driving member being operatively connected to said nut whereupon at the starting of said motor said nut urges said driving member into mesh with said engine driven member, said driving member having a portion supported within said drum.

In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, a threaded transmission member driven thereby, having an unthreaded end, a driving pi'nion having a cupped portion fitting over said unthreaded end, and means cooperating with said threaded portion and said pinion, to cause automatic shifting of the latter upon starting of said motor for meshing with an engine driven member, and to then transmit a cranking torque. i

23. In an engine starter unit, in combinaa threaded transmission memhaving an unthreaded end ,a driving pinion havingtacupped portion fitting over said unthreaded end, a nut on said threaded member, assess e%seet' said nut to said pinion, t urge the latter into mesh with an engine driven gear upon starting of said motor,

to cause the former and means to then cause tightening of said nut on said transmission member and the rotation of said pinion with said member and said nut for cranking.

24. In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, a threaded transmission member driven thereby, having an unthreaded end, a driving pinion having a cupped portion fittin over said unthreaded end, a nut on said threaded member, a compression spring interposed between said nut and said pinion, and means to cause tightening of said nut on said transmission member when said pinion is in cranking engagement and the rotation of said pinion with said member and said nut for cranking.

25. In an engine starter unit in combination, a motor, a threaded transmission member driven thereby, having an unthreaded end, a driving pinion beyond the end of said member, a cupped portion connected thereto and fitting over said end, and a nut on said threaded portion adapted to drive said cupped portion for cranking.

26. In an engine starter unit in combination, a motor, a threaded transmission member driven thereby, having an unthreaded end, a driving pinion beyond the end of said member, a barrel member rigid with said pinion and concentric with said transmission member, a nut on said threaded transmission member in driving relation to said barrel, and a compression springwithin said barrel between said nut and pinion.

27. In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, a threaded transmission member driven thereby, having an unthreaded end, a driving pinion beyond the end of said member, a barrel member rigid with said pinion, a nut on said threaded transmission member connected to said barrel to permit relative translation, but to prevent substantial relativerotation, and a compression spring within said barrel between said nut and pinion.

28. In an engine starter, in combination, a driven gear connected with an engine, a motor, a transmission member, a driving gear mounted thereon, a barrel concentric with said transmission member and connected to said driving gear, means for shiftin said driving gear into cooperation with said driven gear, means connecting said transmission member to drive said barrel, and a support in which saidbarrel rotates.

29. In an engine starter in combination, a driven gear connected with an engine, a driving gear adapted to cooperate with and drive the othergear, but normally out of engagement therewith, a motor, a screw member, a barrel concentric with said screw member and connected to said driving gear, a nut threaded onsaid screw member and) a connected to said barrel to cause automatic longitudinal movement thereof, for meshing and then to transmit a cranking torque, and a sup ort in which said barrel rotates.

30. n an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, a tram'mixies member, having a free end, a driving pinion having a barrel connected thereto, a neck portion connectin said barrel and said pinion and telescope over the end of the transmission member, to permit the latter to rotate therein, a shoulder on saidbarrel, means cooperating therewith to cause automatic translation of said pinion into mesh with an engine driven gear, and means to then transmit a cranking torque through said barrel to said pinion.

31. In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, a transmission member, having a free end, a. driving pinion having a barrel connected thereto, a neck portion connectin said barrel and said pinion' and telescoped over the end of the transmission member, to permit the latter to rotate therein, a shoulder on said barrel, means cooperating there with to cause automatic translation of said pinion into mesh with an engine driven gear, means to then transmit a cranking torque through said. barrel to sand pinion, and a support in which said barrel rotates.

32. In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, a screw member driven thereby, having an unthreadeld free end, a pinion,"

a barrel, a neck rigidly joining said pinion and said barrel, and fitted over the free end of said screw member with the pinion projecting beyond said screw member, said neck closely embracing said free end, a nut threaded on said screw member and connected to rotate with said barrel, and a compression spring in said barrel contacting said nut.

33. As an article of manufacture, a transmission unitfor an engine starter comprisin a pinion, a concentric barrel, a neck joining said pinion and said barrel and integral with both said members, a flanged nut in the said barrel, means for preventing said nut from escaping therefrom, and a coil spring in said barrel, pressing against said nut.

34!. In an engine starter, in combination, a transmission comprising a member, a pinion mounted thereon, and havln a flanged extension, a support within w ich said extension is lod d, and means between said support and said extension, to prevent undesired movement of said pinion toward the engine gear with which it is adapted to cooperate.

'35. In an engine starter, in comb nation, an automatic transmimion comprising 'a member, a'pinion mounted thereon, a flanged barrel connected to said pinion, a support within which a portion of said barrel is lodged, and a coil spring between said Stipport and said flange, to prevent creeping a driven gear connected t drivin of said pinion toward the engine gear with which it is adapted to cooperate.

36. In an engine starter unit, in combination, an automatic transmission comprising a screw member having an unthreaded end, a pinion having an integral flanged barrel telescoped over said end, a nut threaded on said screw member and connected to said barrel to prevent substantial relative rotation, a support within which part of said barrel rotates and a coil spring between said support and said flange to prevent creeping of said pinion toward the engine gear with which it is adapted to cooperate.

37. In astarter unit for gas engines and the like, in combination, a driving pinion, adapted to cooperate with and drive an engine gear, but normally out of engagement therewith, a motor, having a front head and a back head, a member parallel to the motor axis, and having its ends disposed between said heads, means for causing said motor to drive said member near the end adjacent the back head, and an automatic control member for said pinion, traveling from near the back head toward the front head to cause meshing.

38. In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor having a driving end, a screw member, means connecting said driving end to the end of said screw member more remote therefrom to transmit torque, a driving pinion, and a threaded portion cooperating with said screw shaft, and with said pinion to cause automatic meshing of the latter with a cooperating engine gear, fol lowed by cranking.

39. In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, having a driving end, a screw member parallel to said motor, means positively connecting said driving end to the end of said screw member more remote therefrom to transmit, torque, and an automatic barrel shift unit on said screw member havingl a driving member adjacent said driving en 40. In an engine starter unit, in combina tion, a motor, having heads and a driving end, a screw member parallel to said motor and terminating between said heads, power reduction means positively connecting said driving end to the more remote end of said screw member, said member having an unthreaded free end, a pinion having a neck rigid therewith, and telescoped over said free end, and a barrel rigid with said neck, a nut interposed between said screw member and said barrel, and means to tighten said nut on said member, when said pinion is in meslrwith a cooperating engine gear.

41. In an engine starter, (incombination,

an engine, a

pinion adapted to cooperate with and drive said gear but normally out of engagement therewith, a motor having its driving end adjacent the plane of said driven gem, power reduction means at said end of said motor, a transmission member for said pinion, means connectin said power reduction means to positively rive said transmission member at the end more remote therefrom, and means for causing automatic meshing of said pinion with said gear, followed by cranking.

42. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor having heads, a screw member parallel thereto, and terminating between said heads, a drum member concentric therewith, power reduction means connecting the front end of said motor to the'front end of said drum, and means connecting the rear end of said drum to drive said screw member, and a barrel member within said drum and enclosing said screw member, said barrel having a driving pinion at its end, and means cooperating with the threads of said screw member and adapted to drive said member for cranking.

43. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor, a drum member, a transmission member therein, of substantially the same length as said drum, said drum projectingibeyond said member at one end, and said transmission member beyond said drum at the other, supports for said projecting portions, means driving one end of said drum from said motor, and means driving the more remote end of said transmission member from said drum, and a barrel shift unit on said transmission member.

44. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor having a shaft, a front head member and a back head member therefor, a drum member, a screw member keyed therein and concentric with said drum, the assembly of said drum mem ber and screw member being disposed be-' tween said head members and in parallelism to said motor shaft, reduction means for imparting thereto, torque of said motor, a. driving pinion beyond the end of said screw member, a cupped portion connected thereto and fitting over said end,' and a nut cooperating with the threads -of said screw member and adapted to drive said cupped portion for cranking.

45. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor, a drum member parallel thereto, power reduction means between said motor and said drum, a screw member in said drum, having an unthreaded freeend, said screw member being concentric with said drum, and keyed thereto,

a barrel shift unit fitting over the free end of said screw member to ermit tk latter to rotate therein, apart of said barrel shift aonstituting a journal within a part of said rum.

46. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor, a front head member and a back head member therefor, a drum member parallel to said motor, power reduction means at the front head, drivingly connected to said drum, a screw member in said drum journaled in said back head, and having an unthreaded free end, said screw member being concentric with said drum, and keyed thereto, a barrel shifting unit fitting over the free end of said screw member to permit the latter to rotate therein,a part of said barrel shift being supported wlthin a part of said drum.

47. In a starter unit for gas engines or the like, in combination, a motor, a drum member parallel to said motor, a screw mem ber therein, concentric with and keyed to said drum, said drum projecting beyond said screw member at one end, and said screw member beyond said drum at the other, a support for said projecting torque portion of the screw member, multiplying means connected to said motor and keyed to said projecting drum portion, a supporting surface in said projecting drum portlon, an automatic barrel shift member fitting over the free end of said screw member and having a portion fitting in said supporting surface and means for retaining said barrel shift within said drum.

48. In an engine starter unit, in combination, a motor, a drum driven therefrom, a screw member concentric with said drum and connected to rotate therewith, a pinion upon said screw member, means coo crating with the threads on said member or moving said pinion with respect to said screw member, a shoulder rigid with said pinion, and a second shoulder on said drum and in the path of said first shoulder, to limit displacement of said pinion.

49. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor having two end head members, a speed reducing transmission having a portion extending between the planes of said head members, and a single nut for maintaining said transmission in position relative to said motor.

50. In apparatus of the character de scribed, in combination, a motor,'having two end head members, a speed reducing transmission having a bearing in each said head member, said transmission including a gear adjacent the front head member, and driven by the motor shaft,-and a single nut adjacent the back head for maintaining said transmission in position relative to said motor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of January 1919.

JOSEPH BIJ UR.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,429,671, granted September 19, 1922, upon the application of Joseph Bijur, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Starting Apparatus for Airplane Engines and the Like, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 28, for the word arrangements read urra'nge'nwnt; page 3, line 125, for the word increasing read increased, page 4, line 62, for the word slot read slots; page 9, line 11, claim 46, for theword shifting read shift; same page, line 23, claim 47, strike out the word torque and insert the same to follow the word member in line 24; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of December, A. D., 1922.

[sun] KARL FENNING,

Acting oamniasioner of Patents. 

